Dr. Vasti Torres: Organizing for Student Success in Higher Education

In an era where Universities seek to improve student outcomes, it is important to consider how they organize units to achieve this goal. The model presented will challenge whether the institution centers the students or if the status quo is tweaked to look better. 

Dr. Vasti Torres is a professor in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE) and an associate faculty member of Latina/o Studies at University of Michigan. Her research focuses broadly on the success of underrepresented students in higher education. She is known for her work on how the identity development of Latinx students can influence their college experience. She has been the Principle Investigator for several grants including a multi-year grant investigating the choice to stay in college for Latino students as well as a multi-year grant looking at the experiences of working college students. She has worked on several community college initiatives including Achieving the Dream, Rural Community College Initiative, and Building Engagement and Attainment for Minority Students initiative.